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Posted: 09/04/13

Murder charge sought
against Wash Twp man

by CHRIS GRAYObserver Staff Writer

Amended charges are sought for a Washington Township man after his alleged actions led to the death of his girlfriend's child.
The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office and sheriff's office is seeking to charge Ronald A. Dimambro, 26, with first-degree felony murder following the death of 2-year-old Damian Sutton.
He will be arraigned at 9 a.m. Sept. 10 before Judge Denis LeDuc at the 42-1 District Court in Romeo.
Dimambro was initially charged with first-degree child abuse on Aug. 21 for shaking Sutton. Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said at 7:45 a.m. on Aug. 27 the boy, Damian Sutton, passed away at the Children's Hospital in Detroit. Sutton was removed from life support.
Macomb County Medical Examiner Daniel Spitz completed an autopsy on Sutton, determining the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, saying the manner of death was homicide. As a result, County Prosecutor Eric Smith is seeking to increase the charges.
"Violence against Macomb County children will not be tolerated," Smith said. "The full weight and resources of this office will be used to seek justice for Damian Sutton."
The sheriff's office said a 911 call came in at 5:23 p.m. on Aug. 21 from the 8500 block of Grand Oaks Court. The caller, Dimambro, said the boy was having trouble breathing and was unresponsive. He told 911 dispatch that the child seemed to be having an asthma attack.
The Washington Township Fire Department responded, immediately transporting Sutton to the Henry Ford Hospital in Clinton Township. He was evaluated and transferred to the Children's Hospital in Detroit.
Medical staff told the sheriff's office that Sutton suffered severe head trauma consistent with "shaken baby syndrome." Dimambro admitted to detectives on Aug. 21 that he had shaken Sutton, and that the child had been left in has care when the incident occurred.
Dimambro was arraigned on Aug. 23 at the 42-1 District Court, receiving a $500,000 cash or surety bond. Bond was revoked after the death of Sutton.
A fundraiser benefiting Sutton's family was held at Younger's Irish Tavern in Romeo on Aug. 27. All proceeds went to Sutton's family for medical and funeral expenses as well as to the Care House of Oakland County.